Hawaii
Leaks persist as work continues to replace iconic state Capitol pools
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Last week’s downpours sent water cascading into the basement offices of the Hawaii State Capitol, and it’s not the first time.
The leaks happened because the Capitol’s iconic ponds are in the process of being replaced by $10 million sheets of glass.
The ponds have been a maintenance nightmare for 55 years, since the Capitol first opened. Now the idea that there may never be water there again is troubling to admirers of the original design, like professor William Chapman, interim dean of the University of Hawaii school of architecture.
“I think they’re an essential part of it,” Chapman said.
The pools symbolized the ocean surrounding the islands and surrounded sometimes chaotic chambers with an oasis of calm, which Chapman says is irreplaceable.
“It creates this sort of tranquility within the space that I think a porcelain kind of finish will not do,” he said.
After concluding that the original brackish ponds were too hard to maintain and that using drinkable water would be too wasteful, the state decided to replace them.
Artist Solomon Enos is involving the public in coloring in a wave pattern that will be reproduced on heavy glass tiles. He was selected by the state Foundation on Culture and the Arts.
The public is invited to add a dot of paint to the design Monday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to noon, until Nov. 30 at the Capitol Modern museum, located at 250 S. Hotel St., across the street from the state Capitol and Iolani Palace.
The dots of paint will be mapped so families can return to the glass promenade and find the exact dots painted years earlier.
State Director of Accounting and General Services Keith Regan said the glass feature will also require continuous maintenance, not unlike the ponds.
“This is a community heirloom,” he said. “This is something that multiple generations are going to be able to enjoy and be proud of.”
But getting there is also a challenge. Regan said the removal of old weatherproofing left the Ewa-side pool area vulnerable to rain, which poured into the basement House staff offices last week, damaging ceilings, walls and equipment, and knocking out power.
State Rep. Sean Quinlan, new House majority leader, said staffers and lawmakers arriving for work Tuesday were stunned by the damage.
“It was kind of a shock. There was water coming down inside the building, inside the parking garage. A number of light fixtures were broken. The other side of the parking garage was pitch black, you couldn’t see a thing,” he said.
Similar weather a year ago caused much more severe leakage in the Senate side of the basement, which also was blamed on the removal of weatherproofing in the Diamond Head pool.
Regan said the contractor this year prepared better for the rain, with hoses and pumps to prevent heavy ponding over the slab, and will pay for any damage.
Meanwhile the glass pools are planned for unveiling in fall of 2026.
Quinlan said many lawmakers have mixed feelings about the change.
“It was never a very comfortable feeling having that volume and weight of water over your head, but it’s also kind of sad, because it was a beautiful feature,” he said.
Copyright 2024 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Partly to Mostly Sunny skies with windward and mauka showers drifting leeward at times. Most of the rainfall will be light and in the overnight to early morning hours with an increasing trend on Tuesday and stronger trends on Thursday and Friday; which is good because we need to beneficial rainfall.
View the latest weather conditions here.
Trade winds will continue blowing from the east all week while a high-pressure system sits north of Hawaii, keeping conditions mostly stable. On Tuesday, a weak weather system moving in from the east will bring some extra showers across the islands, but nothing major. A more significant system arrives Thursday through Friday—it’s actually the leftover remains of a tropical cyclone—and will bring noticeably heavier rain, especially on the windward sides of the islands (the sides facing the trade winds) and on mountain slopes, with humidity increasing as well. The highest rainfall will happen Thursday through Friday, though overall rainfall amounts will stay limited due to large-scale stability in the atmosphere.
A Small Craft Advisory now in effect for all Hawaiian waters (a warning for smaller boats to be cautious). A new long-period swell from the south-southwest is already moving in and will boost south shore surf heights to near-High Surf Advisory levels through Monday before gradually fading. East-facing shores will remain rough and choppy throughout the week from the strong winds, while north-facing shores will stay relatively flat. These windy conditions and Small Craft Advisories will continue through the entire week.
Download the HNN Weather app from the Apple App Store or Google Play for the latest updates from your First Alert Weather Team: chief meteorologist Jennifer Robbins, meteorologist Drew Davis, and weather anchors Guy Hagi, Ben Gutierrez, and Billy V.
Copyright 2026 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A woman has died after a crash that shut down the H-1 Freeway westbound in Honolulu Saturday.
According to the Honolulu Police Department, officers responded to a single-vehicle crash just before 6 p.m. near the Aala Street overpass.
Sources said a woman in her late 20s was pronounced dead at the scene.
First responders remain on scene, and the investigation is ongoing.
The city said via HNL Alert that all westbound lanes of the freeway near the Aala Street overpass are closed and access is restricted to emergency vehicles only.
Officials said those on the H-1 West are being diverted off the freeway at the North School Street cutoff.
Drivers are asked to avoid the area.
Copyright 2026 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – As the United States marks 250 years as a nation today, another observance is highlighting Hawaiian sovereignty and history.
A Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea celebration is taking place today at Iolani Palace in Honolulu, offering a Native Hawaiian perspective alongside U.S. 250th anniversary observances.
The event highlights Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea (Sovereignty Restoration Day), which commemorates the 1843 restoration of Hawaiian Kingdom sovereignty after a brief British occupation. Although traditionally observed on July 31, related events are being held throughout the month.
Today’s program runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and includes protocol ceremonies, a historical reenactment, music, and community speakers. Musicians and speakers begin at 11 a.m. on the bandstand.
The event also includes screen-printing, and discussions on topics such as geothermal energy and RIMPAC.
Organizers say the gathering is meant to create space for Native Hawaiian voices and reflection on history, sovereignty, and the future of Hawai’i.
For more information about events click here.
Copyright 2026 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
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