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Demolition of Hawaii's Legendary Stairway to Heaven | TravelPirates

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Demolition of Hawaii's Legendary Stairway to Heaven | TravelPirates


However, the stairs quickly gained popularity through social media and the series “Magnum PI”, which is why the Honolulu City Council finally decided to demolish the stairs in 2021. The cost of the demolition work is approximately $2.5 million and will take around 6 months because of the behavior of the tourists. Planning for the demolition of the stairs began on April 22, 2024.

Despite the work and the strict ban, many people still visit the Haiku Stairs, which has recently led to several reports and warnings . In addition to the fact that visiting is a criminal offense, it is also very dangerous, according to the Honolulu District Mayor, because “It is an active construction site” where there is heavy machinery.

The “Friend of Haiku Stairs” have filed a lawsuit against the City and County of Honolulu to prevent the demolition of the stairs. The hearing of the lawsuit was scheduled for March 10, 2024, during which time the demolition work was paused, but according to the city administration, planning continued.

According to the current status, the court has decided against stopping the demolition. The reason given is that the stairs have no historical significance. The demolition work and planning will now continue.

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Hawaii topples Rockhurst in 4 sets in nightcap despite 24 service errors | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

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Hawaii topples Rockhurst in 4 sets in nightcap despite 24 service errors | Honolulu Star-Advertiser




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Nick Taylor back to defend Sony. Will it be the last time its played?

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Nick Taylor back to defend Sony. Will it be the last time its played?


Nick Taylor won the Sony Open in Hawaii a year ago in dramatic fashion, as he needed a playoff to earn his fifth PGA Tour win. It was the third year in a row the Canadian won a tournament in a playoff.

This year, he’s back on the island of Oahu to defend his title at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu. The Sony, traditionally the second tournament of the season, gets lead-off honors in 2026 after The Sentry was canceled.

With rumors swirling about significant schedule changes coming in 2027, the Sony Open might fall off the radar.

“It’ll be a place that I’ll miss a lot, not just this tournament, but the state of Hawaii,” Taylor said during his media session Wednesday after his morning pro-am. “It’s one with Maui being such an awesome event over the years feeling like such an accomplishment to play there. Other than last couple years if win you’re playing in that golf tournament. It just felt like it was a great start to the year.

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“Nothing set in stone. It’ll still be a place I’m going to visit. I don’t know about annually after that. We’ll see. My wife, we’re going to miss it. Yeah, it’ll be a year that I guess we won’t take it as much for granted this year with potentially things changing.”

And if the Hawaii swing does become a thing of the past, the PGA Tour season is likely to have a later start on the calendar.

“You know, if more of an offseason is something that results in this, I have two young kids, that’s something would be very valuable,” he said of those schedule rumors. “I know as much as probably everybody in this room, so there is a lot of the things I don’t quite know. Extending the offseason I think nobody would complain about that, so that would be something I would definitely take advantage of, spend more time with family and be at home.”

Collin Morikawa, meanwhile, is playing the Sony for the first time since 2021.

“I love it. I’ve taken this event off the past couple years and I miss it. It’s a fun event,” he said. “For me, family ties to Hawaii. Always good to be out here. Even the last couple years that I haven’t played we came over for a couple days and hung out for vacation. Just an amazing island to be on.”

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Morikawa’s grandparents were born in Lahaina on Maui, where the Sentry is normally held.

“For me, someone that has ties to Hawaii, you never want to see something go away for good,” he said. “It just makes you realize, stay present this week and enjoy it as much as you can and see what kind of memories we can make. Hopefully finally find a way to win on the islands out here.”



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Here’s How to Protect and Expand Social Security, According to One Hawaii Senator | The Motley Fool

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Here’s How to Protect and Expand Social Security, According to One Hawaii Senator | The Motley Fool


With approximately six years until Social Security benefits must be cut, one group of Hawaii legislators has come up with a simple plan to prevent a shortfall.

It’s no secret that Social Security, as we know it, is in a pinch. According to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB), the Social Security and Medicare trust funds are six years away from insolvency.

The combination of more retirees, fewer people in the workforce, and the impact of President Trump’s big, beautiful bill (OBBBA) leads the CRFB to estimate a 24% Social Security cut in late 2032 if nothing is done. In addition, retirees could face an 11% cut in Medicare Hospital Insurance payments.

This isn’t the first time the trust funds have been in trouble. In 1982, the fund that helped cover the cost of monthly Social Security benefits faced a significant shortfall and was forced to borrow from other funds to pay benefits on time. Congress was able to work together long enough to raise taxes on some, adjust benefits, and prevent insolvency.

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With a similar problem facing the trusts 44 years later, Hawaii’s Senator Brian Schatz and Representative Mazie Hirono (along with Rep. Jill Tokuda) believe they have a simple solution. Here’s what their proposal, called the SAFE Social Security Act, would do.

Image source: Getty Images.

Lift the payroll tax

To ensure payroll taxes apply fairly across the board and that the rich pay their share, the proposal includes a plan to phase out the payroll tax cap so that no one can stop paying into Social Security once their income hits $184,500.

Adjust benefit calculations

The trio suggests adjusting the way current benefits are calculated, a move that would increase the average monthly benefit by more than $150.

Update how cost-of-living adjustments are determined

As of today, cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) are based on increases in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from the third quarter of the previous year to the third quarter of the current year. In theory, using inflation tied to CPI-W is supposed to help retirees keep pace with the rising cost of living.

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For years, however, senior citizen advocacy groups have insisted that the wrong index is being used because working adults and retired adults spend money differently. For example, an older retiree is likely to spend more on medical care than a younger person still in the workforce.

The Hawaii legislator’s plan would address the issue by basing the COLA on an index that tracks inflation related to seniors’ spending. Specifically, they’re talking about the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E).

Sen. Schatz believes that the SAFE Social Security Act will expand Social Security and put more money in the hands of those who rely on it. It will also strengthen the program for the next generation of retirees, ensuring today’s workforce has something to look forward to.



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