News from 2024
Hawai‘i implements historic income tax cuts starting January 2025
By Big Island Times | Dec 19, 2024
In 2024, Governor Josh Green and the Hawai‘i Legislature enacted Act 46, which is described as the largest income tax cut in the state's history.
Senators Hirono and Schatz secure support for Hawaii in Water Resources Development Act
By Big Island Times | Dec 19, 2024
The U.S. Senate has approved the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024, which incorporates several measures advocated by U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Brian Schatz to benefit communities in Hawaii and enhance the...
Hawaii's Year of Forest Birds highlights challenges and conservation efforts
By Big Island Times | Dec 19, 2024
2024 marked the "Year of the Forest Birds" in Hawaii, as declared by Governor Josh Green, M.D., with an aim to increase awareness about the challenges faced by Hawaiian forest birds.
Senate passes bill studying Lahaina's potential as national heritage area
By Big Island Times | Dec 17, 2024
The U.S. Senate has unanimously approved the Lahaina National Heritage Area Study Act, a bill introduced by Senator Mazie K. Hirono and Representative Jill Tokuda.
Hirono leads effort to amend NDAA for military parents' healthcare rights
By Big Island Times | Dec 16, 2024
U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono, along with twenty colleagues, has introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2025.
Hawaiʻi reports first pediatric influenza death of 2024-25 season
By Big Island Times | Dec 13, 2024
The Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH) has reported the first influenza-associated death of a child in Hawaiʻi for the 2024-2025 flu season.
Legislation proposed to enhance conservation efforts for historical government records
By Big Island Times | Dec 13, 2024
U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono and Ed Markey have introduced the Public Archives Resiliency Act, a bill designed to authorize grants for the preservation, climate resilience, adaptation, and continuity of essential government records.
Hale Mōʻiliʻili breaks ground as DHHL's first high-rise rental apartment
By Big Island Times | Dec 13, 2024
In Honolulu, the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) has initiated construction on its first high-rise rental apartment.
Hawaii urges voluntary pause on bird movement due to avian flu detection
By Big Island Times | Dec 13, 2024
In response to the detection of avian flu in Hawaii's wastewater and wild birds, state agencies are recommending a voluntary 90-day pause on the interisland movement of poultry and other bird species.
5 million awarded for Hawaii's forestland conservation
By Big Island Times | Dec 11, 2024
U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono has announced that Hawaii will receive $5 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to aid in forest management and restoration activities.
Hawaiʻi Supreme Court educates students with community outreach at Mililani High
By Big Island Times | Dec 11, 2024
The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court held a session at Mililani High School on December 10, as part of the Judiciary's Courts in the Community outreach program.
Avian flu detected in wastewater sample at Hilo treatment plant
By Big Island Times | Dec 10, 2024
The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) State Laboratories Division has identified H5 avian influenza in a wastewater sample collected on December 2 at the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant on Hawaiʻi Island.
H5 avian flu detected at wastewater site in Hilo
By Big Island Times | Dec 10, 2024
The Hawai‘i Department of Health's State Laboratories Division has identified H5 avian influenza in a wastewater sample from the Hilo Wastewater Treatment Plant on Hawaiʻi Island.
Senators urge Biden to protect immigrant families before Trump's inauguration
By Big Island Times | Dec 10, 2024
U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono, alongside six fellow senators, has called on President Joe Biden to take action to protect immigrant families before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.
Hawaii enhances prescription monitoring program with new technology
By Big Island Times | Dec 10, 2024
The Department of Law Enforcement's Narcotics Enforcement Division (NED) in Honolulu is making significant enhancements to the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP).
Hawai'i recognizes IT advancements at inaugural technology awards
By Big Island Times | Dec 9, 2024
The Office of Enterprise Technology Services (ETS) has announced the winners of the first State of Hawaiʻi Technology-Enhanced Business Capability Awards Program.
Star Light program reconnects incarcerated women with their children
By Big Island Times | Dec 8, 2024
The Women’s Community Correctional Center (WCCC) in Honolulu recently held a special event, Star Light, Star Bright Kids’ Day, in collaboration with the Pūʻā Foundation and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu.
Hawaii DOH approves Cure Oahu's third retail facility for medical cannabis
By Big Island Times | Dec 5, 2024
The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) has granted approval for TCG Retro Market 1, doing business as Cure Oahu, to operate as a medical cannabis retail dispensary.
Hawai‘i Department of Health receives $11.99M grant for children's mental health services
By Big Island Times | Dec 5, 2024
The Hawai‘i Department of Health’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division (CAMHD) has received an $11.99 million grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Travel-related dengue case reported on Oʻahu by health department
By Big Island Times | Dec 5, 2024
The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed a new travel-related dengue virus case on Oʻahu, raising the total number of cases in the state to 15 for 2024.