Hawaii
Hiker killed on Kauai trail identified by loved ones
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A California woman who died from injuries she suffered while hiking on Kauai last month has been identified.
According to the Kauai Fire Department, the woman was hiking Makaleha Falls Trail in Kapaa on Sunday, March 23, when she was hit on the head by a falling rock.
First responders said they found her unconscious at the base of the falls, with labored breathing and heavy bleeding from an apparent head wound.
She was airlifted to Wilcox Memorial Hospital and then to Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu.
Loved ones identified her as Gianna Buzzetta, and said she died on March 24. The 26-year-old had worked as a pastry chef in Carlsbad.
According to her family, Buzzetta was hiking with her boyfriend, who ran to get help.
A fundraiser has been set up here to help with medical and funeral expenses.
Copyright 2025 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Hawaii Foodbank will host a food drive on Monday for families affected by the federal government shutdown, but registration has already filled up.
The foodbank said the Government Shutdown Relief Food Distribution will take place on Monday from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Waipio Soccer Complex.
The foodbank said households must meet one of the following eligibility requirements:
- Currently receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Experiencing loss of wages due to furlough (federal government employees only)
- Experiencing loss of employment (federal government employees only)
- Meeting income eligibility guidelines for assistance through the Emergency Food Assistance Program
The foodbank said that income eligibility requirements include:
| Household/Family Size | Annual Income equal to or less than: |
|---|---|
| 1 | $53,970 |
| 2 | $72,960 |
| 3 | 91,950 |
| 4 | 110,940 |
| 5 | 129,930 |
| 6 | 148,920 |
| 7 | 167,910 |
| 8 | 186,900 |
The foodbank said that households and families larger than eight should add $18,900 for each additional person.
Advanced registration for Monday’s food distribution was required.
As of 4:20 p.m., the Hawaii Foodbank said Monday’s event at the Waipio Soccer Complex is full.
Click here for more information on other food distribution events and additional resources.
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Copyright 2025 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
LIHUE (HawaiiNewsNow) – Hula, memories and aloha filled the Kilohana Plantation grounds Saturday as hundreds turned out to honor the life of Jonelle Marie Leināʻala Pavao-Jardin.
She died on Oct. 4 at the age of 51 after a 15-month battle with pancreatic cancer.
“I knew my mom was such an amazing person, but she lived such a humble, humble life, so truly I didn’t know what to expect today, how many people would be here, but it’s felt so nice,” said her daughter, Jeslie Pavao.
As kumu hula for the award-winning Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana O Leināʻala, she touched countless lives over her nearly 30 years of teaching hula.
Generations of her dancers took the stage one last time for their kumu at her celebration of life.
“She was always kind. Even when we were dancing together with Kumu Ray, she was always funny, so much fun to be around. Just her spirit. She was always light. She was always so easy to get along with,” said Keano Kaupu, longtime friend and kumu hula of Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua.
The celebration not only honored her life and rich legacy of hula, and highlighted her very strong sense of faith in that got her through so many of life’s challenges.
Daughter Jeslie said, “I went back to medical school two days after my mom passed. They asked me how I’ve done it and it’s really because of my faith in God and if I didn’t have my faith, I wouldn’t be OK and that truly comes from my mom and how she raised us to just trust Ke Akua, love him and follow his journey for us.”
Musician and longtime friend Ikaika Blackburn said, “She grew up surrounded by the warmth of her close-knit family where her parents instilled in her the values of love, kindness, generosity, and resilience that she carried with her and shared with each of us throughout her life.”
“That phrase, live like Leināʻala, so true. If you think of life like that, you going be happy,” said Kumu Keano.
As Kauai mourns the loss of her physical presence, they says her spirit will live on forever through the heart of the halau, now led by her daughter, Kumu Breeze Pavao.
Kumu Leināʻala leaves behind her husband, Sean, daughters Breeze and Jeslie, and son Napali.
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Copyright 2025 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Nurses and respiratory therapists with the Hawaii Nurses’ Association presented a petition to Hawaii Pacific Health and Kapiolani Medical Center leaders, Friday, urging them to reach a resolution with staff currently on strike.
The hospital’s technicians, housekeeping staff, dietary team members, and others had been on strike for two weeks when the nurses and respiratory therapists intervened on behalf of their co-workers.
Nurses at Kapiolani Medical Center were locked out of their jobs for 22 days after they went on strike in September.
Nurses are urging hospital leaders to “put mothers, children and babies ahead of their own financial self-interests, return to the bargaining table to negotiate in good faith, and provide fair compensation for the employees represented by the Hawaii Teamsters and Allied Employees, Local 996.”
Copyright 2025 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
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