Hawaii

Experts say preliminary results of Kula ash sampling indicate high levels of dangerous toxins

Published

1 year ago

October 15, 2023

Experts say preliminary results of Kula ash sampling indicate high levels of dangerous toxins

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Hawaii Department of Health and Hawaii Department of Education held a media release discussing the results of preliminary, unvalidated data from ash sampling showing elevated levels of toxic substances in Maui.

Dr. Fink says they received ashes on Friday from eight Kula homes impacted by the wildfires that ranged in age from the 1930s to the 2000s.

Of the ash samples collected, high levels of lead, cobalt, and extremely high levels of arsenic were indicated in the results.

“The results may be generalizable to the materials burned in Lahaina, so we wanted to share this information as quickly as possible with the people of Maui.” Dr. Kenneth Fink, Director of the Hawaii State Department of Health, said.

Once the EPA completes phase 1 of hazard removal, the DOH will oversee a collection of ash samples from Lahaina.

“The presence of the substances is not surprising, but the concentrations are indeed high.” Dr. Fink said.

The presence of arsenic is the DOH’s greatest concern, as it is 140 times above the environmental action level.

Dr. Fink says direct exposure to the ash is the most significant risk, and ingestion of the ash would be the greatest exposure.

He encourages anyone going in and out of the area to continue wearing PPE masks and to avoid disrupting the ash as much as possible.

Dr. Fink strongly recommends against pregnant women and children entering the impacted area. He also recommends that people outside the impacted area be mindful of the risks.

Find out more information about the air monitors being used to monitor the air here.

Keith Hayashi, Superintendent of Hawaii State Department of Education, says that the reopening of Lahaina schools for in-person learning is critical to the well-being of the students and the Lahaina community.

They will continue to work with the Department of Health and continue their extensive environmental testing and air quality monitoring to ensure a safe environment for students.

“We’ve been reassured the likelihood of the conditions at schools will become harmful in the near future is very low. Still, we revised our safety guidelines to be extra cautious,” Keith Hayashi said.

Lahaina schools will continue to be reopened starting Monday.

The soil and drinking water that they’ve tested have all come back safe. With no visible ash present at the schools or has been indicated in any testing.

They’ve also had specialized interior and exterior cleaning at all the schools.

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Hawaii

Plane crash under investigation on Hawaii Island

Published

2 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Press Room

Plane crash under investigation on Hawaii Island

WAIMEA (HawaiiNewsNow) – Federal investigators are looking into what caused a plane to crash on Hawaii Island Monday.

The National Transportation Safety Board confirms it is looking into what caused a Cessna to go down at Parker Ranch in Waimea shortly before noon.

Investigators said preliminary information indicated the plane experienced a loss of engine power.

A witness said two people walked away from the aircraft on their own. No one was hurt.

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Hawaii

Hawaii Bowl announcers Tiffany Greene, Jay Walker get rare moment in spotlight

Published

9 hours ago

December 24, 2024

Press Room

Hawaii Bowl announcers Tiffany Greene, Jay Walker get rare moment in spotlight

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring … and the only sports on TV was the Hawaii Bowl on ESPN.

The Christmas Eve game pitting South Florida (6-6) against San Jose State (7-5) didn’t bring the same energy as a major bowl, but when you’re the only live major sporting event on U.S. TV, fans will take notice.

On social media, the matchup generated surprising buzz for a minor bowl game.

People treating the Hawaii bowl tonight like it’s the Super Bowl
— Zlatni Topki (@ZlatniTopki) December 24, 2024

Out in Honolulu, ESPN had play-by-play announcer Tiffany Greene and color analyst Jay Walker on the game, and the pair, who have worked together for years, made the most of their moment in the spotlight.

Greene, who was the first African-American woman to serve as a play-by-play commentator for college football on a major network, had the opportunity to call some big plays, including this kickoff return touchdown by South Florida’s Ta’Ron Keith.

Tiffany Green was VERY amped up about this kick return touchdown and later replay of the big play from USF returner Ta’Ron Keith. pic.twitter.com/FkHDlaYBPK
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 25, 2024

And here’s Greene on a big interception early in the game.

USF forces an interception that would later result in points and a 14-0 lead over San Jose State.
Tiffany Greene and Jay Walker on the call of the Hawai’i Bowl on ESPN. pic.twitter.com/eMyo4aHsXn
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 25, 2024

Unfortunately, everything did not go smoothly for Greene and Walker. Of particular concern, Walker’s audio sounded consistently muddy, as if he were doing the broadcast remotely.

Are they actually there? Her co host literally sounds like he’s on a zoom call
— HuskerJim (@jimtheplumber63) December 25, 2024

Others on social media were even less charitable in their comments on the announcers.

This is a horrible announcing crew. This is not a high profile game, but as the only one on Cmas Eve, likely with a decent audience of folks looking for distractions, why this crew & not a better one? Why not put these guys on one of the midday workday games with less eyes/ears?
— Justin Firesheets (@JFiresheets) December 25, 2024

Yet some fans were left wanting to hear more of Greene and Walker in the future.

Tiffany is awesome! She has the spunk of Gus & a little of Beth Mowins when she announces CFB👍
— Herbie Garcia (@herbieg55) December 25, 2024

[ESPN]

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Hawaii

College football's Hawaii Bowl highlights slowest sports day of 2024

Published

20 hours ago

December 24, 2024

Press Room

College football's Hawaii Bowl highlights slowest sports day of 2024

Sports fans can breathe easy on Christmas Eve as there will only be one game played on Tuesday before a full buffet of games on Christmas Day.

College football aficionados will be happy to know there is one bowl game on the slate. The Hawaii Bowl between South Florida and San Jose State. The game will start at 8 p.m. ET.

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South Florida Bulls quarterback Israel Carter runs the ball against the Florida Atlantic Owls at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Florida, Nov. 1, 2024. (Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images)

The Bulls finished 6-6 on the season and earned a second straight bowl game under head coach Alex Golesh. They had the same record last season before entering and winning the Boca Raton Bowl over Syracuse, 45-0.

The Spartans finished the season 7-5 overall in Ken Niumatalolo’s first season at the helm. The team is on a three-bowl-game losing streak. They lost the Hawaii Bowl last season and the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in 2022. The Spartans also lost the Arizona Bowl in 2020.

San Jose State hasn’t won a bowl game since the 2015 Cure Bowl under Ron Caragher.

San Jose State Spartans head coach Ken Niumatalolo after their win over the Stanford Cardinal at CEFCU Stadium in San Jose, California, Nov. 29, 2024. (Eakin Howard-Imagn Images)

TEXAS FOOTBALL MASCOT BEVO BARRED FROM SIDELINES OF UPCOMING CFP GAME, ORGANIZERS SAY

Sports fans looking for some action should take it all in and be able to get some sleep before opening presents and starting Christmas Day at noon ET with NBA games.

The NFL also has games on Christmas Day for the second straight year – a two-game menu featuring the Kansas City Chiefs against the Pittsburgh Steelers at 1 p.m. ET and the Houston Texans hosting the Baltimore Ravens at 4:30 p.m. ET.

Browns defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. and linebacker Devin Bush rush Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland on Dec. 15, 2024. (Ken Blaze-Imagn Images)

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College football will return on Dec. 26 and the NHL will be back on Dec. 27.

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