Hawaii
Hawaii congresswoman says Tulsi Gabbard endorsing Trump is ‘not pono’
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After lengthy delays, the film will hit theaters on Oct. 11. Donald Trump’s team has said they will file a lawsuit over the biopic.
U.S. Rep. Jill Tokuda, D-Hawaii, criticized former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard after she endorsed Donald Trump and joined his transition team.
Gabbard, who previously represented Tokuda’s congressional district from 2013 to 2021 and supported President Joe Biden in 2020, announced her endorsement of Trump at a National Guard event in Detroit last week. Tokuda quickly fired back on social media, saying Gabbard’s decision doesn’t align with the Aloha State.
“Trump and Tulsi do not represent Hawaii values and fail to fight for our freedoms,” Tokuda posted on Facebook. “We will reject their extremism this November. This is not pono.”
“Pono” is a term in Hawaiian culture that signifies righteousness, integrity, and moral responsibility. By saying Gabbard’s endorsement of Trump is “not pono,” Tokuda argues it goes against the ethical balance Hawaiians hold dear. The concept is embedded in Hawaii’s state motto, “Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono,” which means “The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.”
Gabbard ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020 and left the party in 2022 to become an independent. Increasingly critical of Biden and his administration, she is now popular among conservatives, frequently appearing as a guest on far-right TV and radio shows.
Trump’s campaign said that former White House hopefuls Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who recently suspended his campaign, and Tulsi Gabbard are now part of his transition team if he wins November’s U.S. presidential election.
Reuters contributed to the reporting of this story.
Jeremy Yurow is a politics reporting fellow based in Hawaii for the USA TODAY Network. You can reach him at JYurow@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter @JeremyYurow
Hawaii
Hawai‘i Fire Department responds to brush fire in North Kona | Big Island Now
A brush in North Kona, near the Ulu Wini Apartments, has closed a portion of Hina Lani Street, between Route 190 and Ane Keokalole Highway.
According to Hawai‘i Island police, the road is expected to be closed for the next three hours and motorists are advised to avoid the area.
Hawai‘i Fire Assistant Chief Chris Carvalho confirmed at least two engines, two brush trucks, Chopper 2 and a medic vehicle responded to the blaze that started in some bushes.
No evacuations or injuries have been reported at this time.
At 11:09 a.m., an AlertWest camera, installed by Hawaiian Electric in wildfire-prone areas, showed smoke billowing above the Keahuolu Courthouse. As of 12:06 p.m., that smoke appears to have dissipated.
This is a developing story. More information will be provided as it becomes available.
Hawaii
Chinese communist party member arrested in Hawaii on visa fraud charge | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Hawaii
Redesigned Hawaii IDs begin rolling out statewide
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Newly redesigned Hawaii driver’s licenses and state IDs are beginning to arrive in mailboxes statewide.
The Department of Customer Services said more than 50,000 residents who renewed or obtained a license or state ID starting in mid-May began receiving the new cards last Friday.
Officials said the updated cards are made of 100% polycarbonate, with laser-engraved photos and added security features intended to deter tampering, fraud and identity theft.
The department said existing driver’s licenses and state IDs remain valid until their expiration dates and do not need to be replaced.
“There’s no reason for them to request a duplicate unless they would like the new card design,” said Kim Hashiro, director of the Department of Customer Services.
Residents were also reminded that temporary paper licenses are not accepted by the Transportation Security Administration for air travel. Travelers using a temporary credential should bring another acceptable form of identification, such as a passport.
Permanent plastic cards are typically mailed within six to eight weeks after an application is submitted, officials said.
Copyright 2026 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
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