Hawaii

As recreational marijuana bill advances, opponents seek to ensure their voices are heard

Published

2 years ago

March 16, 2024

As recreational marijuana bill advances, opponents seek to ensure their voices are heard

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A proposal to legalize recreational marijuana in Hawaii is advancing in the Legislature, but there is still resistance from other elected officials and community members.

On Friday, the full House voted to pass the recreational marijuana bill to the commerce and consumer protection committee, but some hope that it won’t get any further in the legislature. About a dozen people rallied outside the capital while the house was in session.

They held up signs urging House members to vote against recreational marijuana.

“I am going to do everything I can to talk to my friends in the House to please do not schedule this bill,” said state Sen. Kurt Fevella.

Fevella organized the gathering and invited Honolulu Prosecutor Steve Alm.

Alm has been repeatedly saying crime would go up including fatal car crashes, murders, and robberies if the law passed.

He also said it’s a danger to children.

“They’re talking to Alan Johnson at Hina Mauka where last year they treated 800 kids for substance abuse problems of that almost 600 were for marijuana,” said Alm.

“This is not a harmless drug, so I urge this the House members to keep looking at it and saying no.”

Supporters of legalizing recreational marijuana said the public is behind it and point to successful efforts in other states. “Fifty-eight perecnt of Hawaii supports adult use legalization according to the most recent PRP poll,” said Nikos Leverenz, of the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii.

“New Mexico shows that onboarding and adult use program need not being too expensive, they did it for under $5 million.”

Leverenz said an assessment is needed to determine whether treatment is the right response.

It’ll be up to Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee to decide if the bill will be heard.

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Related Topics:Cannabis Featured Legislature marijuana opposition rally

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Hawaii

Evacuations ordered for Buildings 4 and 5 of the Lofts in Waikōloa as firefighters continue response to brush fire | Big Island Now

Published

8 hours ago

July 11, 2026

Press Room

Evacuations ordered for Buildings 4 and 5 of the Lofts in Waikōloa as firefighters continue response to brush fire | Big Island Now

July 10, 2026, 6:19 PM HST
* Updated July 10, 6:20 PM

This story was updated at 6:19 p.m. July 10, 2026.

Hawai‘i Fire Department issued a wildfire warning and is responding to a brush fire in the Waikōloa area of South Kohala, with evacuations ordered for Buildings 4 and 5 of the Lofts in Waikōloa Village.

An evacuation shelter is open at Waikōloa Elementary School cafeteria, located at 68-1730 Hoʻokō St.

Waikōloa Road from Paniolo Avenue to Highway 190 is closed. Hawai’i Police Department advises motorists to avoid the area for at least the next 4 hours.

Only local traffic will be allowed on Waikōloa Road from Paniolo Avenue to Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway.

More information will be provided as it becomes available. Hawai’i County Civil Defense is providing updates as conditions change.

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Hawaii

Magnitude 4.5 earthquake strikes off Hawaii island | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Published

18 hours ago

July 10, 2026

Press Room

Magnitude 4.5 earthquake strikes off Hawaii island | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

COURTESY USGS

This U.S. Geological Survey map shows the location of a magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck off Hawaii island’s southwest coast Friday night.

A magnitude 4.5 earthquake struck off the southwest coast of Hawaii island Thursday night, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The epicenter of the quake, which hit at 8:17 p.m., was about 34 miles west-southwest of Captain Cook at a depth of about 24 miles below sea level, USGS officials said. It did not generate a tsunami threat to the islands, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.

USGS said in a statement that the earthquake “was related to bending of the ocean crust and upper brittle mantle (the lithosphere) by the weight of the islands.” No impact to the Mauna Loa volcano nor the ongoing Kilauea eruption was expected.

The USGS self-reported “Did you feel it?” online survey for the earthquake generated well over 200 responses, mostly on the Big Island but including several from Oahu and Maui.

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Hawaii

3 candidates to be considered for District 18 seat

Published

1 day ago

July 10, 2026

Press Room

3 candidates to be considered for District 18 seat

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Democratic Party of Hawaii selected three nominees to fill the vacant Senate District 18 seat, serving Central Oahu, Mililani, Waipio and Waipahu, after Sen. Michelle Kidani’s retirement.

Kidani’s retirement took effect on June 30.

The party announced Thursday that Sechyi Laiu, Beth K Fukumoto, and Danielle Bass were submitted for selection to fill the seat.

Laiu is a senior Hawaii civil service administrator with more than 15 years of experience in commercial, family, immigration and legislative law. He is the litigation coordinator for the Hawaii Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and was a staff attorney for the city on transportation, public safety, legal affairs and salary compensation.

Fukumoto is a political columnist, longtime Miliani resident and former state representative. She served as vice chair of the House committees on Tourism and Veterans, Military and International Affairs and Culture and the Arts.

Bass is a fourth-generation, lifelong Miliani resident, with more than 20 years of experience serving Central Oahu and Hawaii. She served as Legislative and Committee Manager in the House and advanced sustainability and resilience initiatives and policies as the state’s sustainability coordinator.

The governor will choose one of the three to serve as the next state senator for Central Oahu.

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