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A university in Hawaii is launching into phase two of a big solar project on its campus, and when completed, it should mean that the university is getting 100% of its electric from solar power. Actually, the clean solar electricity will go even beyond that.

The university is Brigham Young University-Hawaii, and this big solar initiative is called the University Solar Project. In addition to providing 100% of Brigham Young University-Hawaii’s needs, extra clean electricity from the project will be used to power the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) and the Laie Hawaii Temple.

Instead of relying on rooftop solar power, the university is going into the ground for phase two of the University Solar Project. It is building a ground-mount solar power system southwest of campus. In addition, it is deploying one of my absolute favorites — solar canopies. They are being built in the parking lot in the southeast corner of campus, near the PCC Pacific Theater — not that any of us are familiar with the campus.

Naturally, as is the norm these days, the solar power project also comes with a battery backup system. The emergency battery backup system is supposed to be able to provide the necessary electricity for five days.

BYD–Hawaii kicked off its University Solar Project in 2022 when it installed three rooftop solar power systems, five solar carports, and 7 MWh of battery backup. That already covered 39% of the university’s electricity needs.

Of course, Hawaii is a clear leader in renewable energy adoption. We recently witnessed some of that clean energy leadership while also pushing for more cleantech adoption via our Electric Home Show in Honolulu. The state truly is a special place.

As El Nino officially takes hold in the Pacific, the National Weather Service Thursday warned there’s a likely chance it could rank “among the largest El Nino events in the historical record going back to 1950.”

El Nino cycles, characterized by above-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean and weak tradewinds, can cause changes in global weather patterns. In Hawaii, the cycle has been linked to more hurricane activity in the Central Pacific Basin in the summer and drought in the winter, which can lead to wildfire threats.

According to the latest update, published Thursday by NWS’s Climate Prediction Center, El Nino conditions developed over the last month with ocean surface temperatures ranging between .7 and 2.1 degrees Celsius, or 1.26 to 3.78 degrees Fahrenheit, above normal. Wind anomalies were also present in the central equatorial Pacific, which further fueled the cycle’s development.

A “very strong” El Nino — what some climatologists have dubbed a “super El Nino” — has a 63% chance of occurring between November and January, right at the end of Hawaii’s hurricane season. Hurricane season started June 1 and lasts through November.

Latest forecasts estimate for this season that there’s a 70% chance the Central Pacific Basin will see five to 13 tropical cyclones, which include tropical depressions, tropical storms and hurricanes.

National Weather Service meteorologist Derek Wroe said the El Nino cycle could mean the region sees a number of cyclones “on the higher range of that spectrum” with possibly more storms at the end of the season when the cycle is expected to be the strongest. He added that exact forecasts and conditions are still uncertain.

“We tend to have more tropical cyclone activity in El Nino years,” he said. “Very strong events bring those odds even higher.”

He reiterated that stronger El Nino cycles do not necessarily mean the weather events, like hurricanes, will be stronger, but rather that they are more likely to occur.

The latest El Nino forecast shows the majority of Hawaii’s hurricane season will likely be defined by moderate to strong El Nino conditions, with very strong conditions becoming more likely beginning in September.

Very strong El Nino seasons occur when sea surface temperatures rise above 2 degrees Celsius, or 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit.

Between now and August, El Nino conditions have a 32% chance of being weak and 58% of being moderate. That changes swiftly in the three month span from July through September, with a weak El Nino at 11%, moderate at 46%, strong at 36%, and very strong at 6%.

The odds shift from September through November, with the likelihood of a very strong El Nino jumping to 48%, and moderate decreases to 36%. Then, in the three month periods preceding both December and January, the likelihood for a very strong El Nino increase to 62% and 63% respectively.

Wroe said Hawaii residents can expect a slightly wetter summer — though it will still be fairly dry.

During winter, the island’s usual wet season, a strong El Nino could cause drought conditions and possibly bring wildfire risk, especially during the following summer.

He added that the high probability of very strong El Nino conditions is unique.

“Right now there’s a 63% chance that it could be a very strong El Nino,” he said. “A 63% chance of forecasting something — that doesn’t happen very often. That’s a very high probability.”

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The killing of an elderly man in Liliha on Wednesday afternoon has neighbors recalling his kindness and questioning the circumstances of the murder.

Friends and neighbors at Nalanui Hale identified the 70-year-old victim as Jesus, who they called “Jessie.” HNN reached out to the Honolulu Medical Examiner to confirm his identity and we’re waiting to hear back.

Jesse Kilborn, who said he knew Jesus for more than 30 years, said he saw him just hours before he was killed.

“Nothing looked suspicious, he was in a good mood as usual,” Kilborn said. “It kinda hurt, ‘cause I know the guy long time. Really loved the guy, he’s a good guy.”

Honolulu police arrested a 32-year-old man nearby after he caused an unspecified disturbance about an hour before they found Jesus.

“Think he said he got attacked,” neighbor Brayden Acierto said.

Authorities have not released Jesus’ relationship to the 32-year-old, but some say Jesus was having trouble with his adult son, who was living with him.

Shana Mari Caminos, a maintenance worker who would see Jesus walk his dogs every day, said, “They were having problems with him (Jesus’ son), because he had some kind of anxiety issues. I’m not sure. They had to calm him down in certain situations.”

Acierto added, “I heard a week ago, they were arguing, like outside of here, couldn’t make it out, just like, shouting.”

HPD is investigating the case as a murder and HNN is waiting for more details.

“It makes me sad, because he was so nice, like a genuinely good guy, and I’m sure he was a good dad,” neighbor Trinity Dario said.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Honolulu CrimeStoppers at (808) 955-8300.