Hawaii

Hawaii And Guam Were The Original Targets Of Shot Down Chinese Spy Balloon, Report Says

Published

2 years ago

February 16, 2023

Hawaii And Guam Were The Original Targets Of Shot Down Chinese Spy Balloon, Report Says

Topline

The Chinese language surveillance balloon that was shot down by the U.S. army earlier this month was initially meant to fly over Guam and Hawaii, Reuters reported on Wednesday as Chinese language officers criticized U.S. lawmakers accusing them of exaggerating the difficulty in an effort to “comprise China.”

On this photograph offered by the U.S. Navy, sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2 … [+] recuperate a high-altitude surveillance balloon off the coast of Myrtle Seaside, S.C.

U.S. Navy

Key Info

Citing an unnamed U.S. official, Reuters reported that the balloon was carried off beam “by prevailing winds” inflicting it to float throughout Alaska and the U.S. mainland earlier than being shot down close to the coast of South Carolina.

Each Guam and Hawaii are house to key U.S. army installations and the New York Instances stories that the targets of China’s balloon program look like army bases within the Pacific.

The U.S. Senate joined the Home on Wednesday in unanimously passing a decision condemning the “invasion” of U.S. airspace by China.

On Thursday, the International Affairs Committee of China’s Nationwide Folks’s Congress slammed the decision in a press release saying it “intentionally exaggerated the ‘China menace.’”

Calling the decision “malicious hype and political manipulation” the assertion accused some U.S. lawmakers of profiting from the difficulty for “their sinister intention of opposing China and attempting to comprise China.”

The International Affairs Committee as a substitute accused the U.S. of “wantonly” conducting surveillance, violating the sovereignty and interfering within the inside affairs of different nations.

What To Watch For

China’s International Minister Wang Yi has begun his week-long journey to Europe as tensions proceed to rise between Washington and Beijing. Wang met with French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday within the first leg of a tour which may also embrace visits to Italy, Hungary, Russia and Germany. Wang is predicted to talk on the Munich Safety Convention on Friday, the place Secretary of State Antony Blinken may also be in attendance. In line with Voice of America, Blinken and his group are getting ready for a attainable assembly along with his Chinese language counterpart on the sidelines of the convention.

Tangent

To assist make the identification of spy balloons and different flying objects simpler, Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) steered that Congress ought to look to mandate using transponders on high-altitude balloons used for analysis and climate monitoring functions. Kelly, a former astronaut and Navy pilot, argues that this might permit the U.S. army and air site visitors controllers to simply determine balloons that aren’t a menace. Transponders onboard airplanes are used to speak the id and site of the plane to air site visitors controllers.

Key Background

The Chinese language balloon entered U.S. airspace over Alaska late final month after which flew over Canada and the U.S. mainland over the interval of per week earlier than it was shot down close to the coast of South Carolina by a U.S. Air Drive F-22 fighter jet. Beijing has rejected the classification of the balloon as a surveillance balloon saying it was merely a civilian climate balloon that had been blown off beam by robust winds. Prior to now week, the U.S. army has additionally shot down three different unidentified objects detected over U.S. and Canadian airspace. The id of those objects stays unclear with the White Home suggesting they might have been designed for “some business or benign objective.”

Additional Studying

‘No Indication’ Three Current Flying Objects Shot Down Have been Chinese language Spy Balloons, White Home Says (Forbes)

Chinese language Spy Balloon ‘Graphic Reminder’ Of Geopolitical Market Dangers—Right here’s What It Means For Shares (Forbes)

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Hawaii

Last minute shopping at Hawaii Holiday Craft & Gift Fair

Published

2 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Press Room

Last minute shopping at Hawaii Holiday Craft & Gift Fair

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – It’s down to the wire for holiday shoppers, with just a few days until Christmas.

For those looking for last minute gifts, the Hawaii Holiday Craft & Gift Fair is happening this weekend at the Blaisdell Center Exhibition Hall.

More than 250 vendors are selling a variety of locally-made products, from clothing and jewelry to food and crafts.

Fair spokesperson Yasmin Dar joined HNN’s Sunrise to talk about the event organized by Sunshine Productions and showcase some of the available products, including scarves from Beads & Things by Kori and candies from the Hawaii Candy Factory, which produces NOMs in local flavors like Banana Lumpia Chocolate Bark, Campfire S’Mores, Peppermint Chocolate Crunch Bark, Li Hing & Lemon Peel Covered Gummies and more.

The fair opens at 10 a.m. and goes until 5 p.m. on Sunday. Buy tickets at the Blaisdell Box Office for $7 per person. Military families and children under 7 years of age are free.

More information and a $2 off coupon can be found at HawaiiHolidayFair.com.

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Hawaii

Pacific Century Fellows focus on strengthening Hawaii-Philippines relationship with special visit

Published

9 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Press Room

Pacific Century Fellows focus on strengthening Hawaii-Philippines relationship with special visit

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Members of a prestigious leadership training program from Hawaii recently traveled to the Philippines on a special visit.

Former Honolulu Mayor and current President/CEO of the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association Mufi Hannemann founded the Pacific Century Fellows Program (PCF) in 1996, modeled after the White House Fellows program to empower emerging leaders across the state to solve local challenges.

Last month, this year’s cohort of 30 business and community leaders. along with some PCF alumni, met with Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who lived in Hawaii for 5 years, when his father, former President Ferdinand Marcos, Sr., was ousted following a nonviolent revolution in 1986 and exiled here.

Marcos Sr. died in Honolulu in 1989, and the family was allowed to return to the Philippines in 1991 and rebuilt their political careers.

The fellows met with various Filipino leaders and discussed ways to boost business opportunities and tourism for both destinations, including more flights to Ilocos Norte, where many Filipinos in Hawaii have roots.

The group visited Ilocos Norte at the invitation of Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc and learned about Hawaii’s strong historic ties to the region.

For more information, visit pacificcenturyfellows.com.

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Hawaii

From scratch to real estate: The Indian family that built an empire in Hawaii

Published

17 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Press Room

From scratch to real estate: The Indian family that built an empire in Hawaii

In 1915, Jhamandas Watumull, a 29-year-old Indian entrepreneur, arrived in Honolulu, Hawaii, to establish a retail shop for his import business. Along with his partner Dharamdas, he registered the business under the name Watumull & Dharamdas on Hotel Street. The store specialised in selling exotic Eastern goods, including silks, brassware, ivory crafts, and other unique items.

Gulab Watumull’s father, Jhamandas, began the family business in Honolulu in 1915.(Flickr)

Tragedy struck in 1916 when Dharamdas succumbed to cholera. This prompted Jhamandas to invite his brother Gobindram to manage the Honolulu store while he oversaw business operations in Manila. Over the years, the brothers travelled frequently between India and Hawaii, strengthening their enterprise, reported the BBC.

The growth of the Watumull Business

The Watumull brothers renamed the business East India Store after Gobindram took charge in Hawaii. The company grew into a department store with branches across Hawaii and parts of Asia. In 1937, Gobindram constructed the Watumull Building in Waikiki to serve as the company headquarters. By 1957, the business had expanded into a multimillion-dollar empire with 10 stores, apartments, and various commercial properties.

The East India Store played a significant role in popularising the iconic “Aloha shirt.” In 1936, Gobindram’s sister-in-law Elsie Jensen created designs featuring Hawaiian motifs like hibiscus flowers, tropical fish, and gardenias. These designs were handblocked onto silk in Japan and became commercially successful. The shirts were embraced by tourists and even Hollywood stars like Loretta Young and Lana Turner.

A shift toward real estate

As Hawaii became a global tourist destination, the Watumulls diversified their business. They purchased the Royal Hawaiian Manufacturing Company and introduced matching family Aloha wear. Over time, the company transitioned into real estate, with its last retail store closing in 2020. In 2023, Watumull Properties acquired a major marketplace spanning over 205,000 square feet.

The Watumull brothers faced significant challenges due to restrictive U.S. immigration laws. Gobindram’s wife, Ellen Jensen, lost her citizenship under the Cable Act after marrying him in 1922. She later regained it in 1931 after advocating for legal reforms. Gobindram became a U.S. citizen in 1946 following a change in naturalisation laws for Indians. Jhamandas obtained citizenship in 1961 after permanently relocating to Hawaii.

The Watumull family contributed significantly to education, arts, and Indian independence. Gobindram supported India’s freedom movement and hosted prominent leaders in his Los Angeles home. The family’s foundation sponsored lectures by Dr. S. Radhakrishnan in the U.S. and facilitated the creation of India’s first birth control clinics. They also funded numerous educational and cultural programs in Hawaii and India.

The Watumull family remains deeply rooted in Hawaii, where their name is synonymous with philanthropy and progress. JD Watumull, the current president of the family’s company, emphasised their commitment to the Hawaiian Islands, stating, “The Hawaiian Islands continue to be our family’s focus today and in the future.”

Also read: Chhattisgarh couple marries by taking an oath on Indian constitution instead of saat pheras: report

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